Nearly two hundred ski areas around the globe hosted at least once a World Cup event since the very first competition at Berchtesgaden on Jan.5th - 1967 – but only five from the fifteen places from that opening World Cup season are still ‘active’ nowadays. In the alphabetical order there are Adelboden (SUI), Kitzbühel (AUT) Madonna di Campiglio (ITA), Sestriere (ITA) and Wengen (SUI).

Like with teams and athletes, the foundation for a successful winter are made in the summer. One part of the preparation for the FIS team is the official FIS inspection that takes place at almost every World Cup venue.